Overview
ISO/TS 6818:2024 - Traditional Chinese medicine - Test method for moxa floss quality - Concentration of waste particles provides a standardized, quantitative method to assess the moxa floss quality by measuring the concentration of waste particles. Designed to replace subjective sensory judgments, the Technical Specification covers sampling, sample conditioning, sieving, weighing, calculation of waste particle rate and unseparation rate, and delivery of moxa floss quality information. It applies to moxa floss products and moxa floss used in moxibustion devices, excluding chemically hardened or carbonized (smokeless) moxa floss.
Key topics and technical requirements
- Scope: Applies to natural moxa floss; does not classify quality grades.
- Sampling:
- Random sampling from product or device; mix bulk to avoid sedimentation.
- Specimen mass: 3.0 g ±10%, with more than three specimens prepared.
- Sample storage:
- Store in a desiccator ≥48 h; humidity ≤11% ±1% and temperature 25 °C ±2 °C; avoid direct light/air flow.
- Test sieving:
- Use standard test sieves per ISO 3310-1 (metal wire cloth).
- Required sieve mesh sizes: 850, 600, 425, 300, 200, 150, 100, 75 μm (diameter 200–450 mm).
- Stack from 850 μm (top) to 75 μm (bottom); top covered, base plate under 75 μm.
- Sieving machine:
- Use sieving machines as specified in ISO 9284; fix sieves securely.
- Procedure:
- Place specimen in 850 μm sieve and sieve for 10 hours; perform at least four repeats per product.
- Weigh residues from each sieve after sieving; calculate concentrations.
- Metrics:
- Waste particle rate: ratio of residues remaining in sieves below 300 μm.
- Unseparation rate: ratio of residues remaining in the 850 μm sieve (fibres not separated).
Applications and who uses it
ISO/TS 6818:2024 is intended for:
- Manufacturers of moxa floss and moxibustion devices - quality control and process optimisation.
- Testing laboratories - standardized method for reproducible measurement and reporting.
- Importers/exporters and regulators - objective evidence for product quality and fair trade.
- R&D teams - product development and comparative studies of manufacturing methods.
Practical uses include batch acceptance testing, supplier qualification, labeling of product quality information, and harmonized trade specifications.
Related standards
Keywords: ISO/TS 6818:2024, moxa floss quality, concentration of waste particles, moxibustion, test method, sieving, waste particle rate, unseparation rate.